Sorry to say, generation has been constant since Thursday morning.  For the most part, they are only running two generators, but the levels are ranging from 706 down to 703.5.  If you find a place to wade, remember this as they don’t necessarily sound the horn if they already have two generators going and want to raise the level from 704 to 706.  Beautiful sunny days both Thursday and Friday.  Of course we have to save the worst weather for the weekend!  Rain predicted for most of today and at least the early part of tomorrow.  We’ll probably see sunny skies for the first of the week.

Darrell on the water yesterday with Olen and his seven year old son, "Olie" from Oklahoma.  They were out for half a day and Olie stuck with it and even caught a fish on his fly rod.  They did have a good day on the holographic green crackleback and a size 10 pattern tied with red thread at the butt, then black thread forward for the body and thorax with a couple wraps of black hackle at the head.  They stripped both these patterns in the seams.

Water generation has been erratic this week.  Monday, we had no generation all day.  Tuesday, despite the projection of water on for a while in the a.m. and off all day until 7:00 p.m., they ran water from 7:00 a.nm. until 5:00 p.m.  Water again off on Wednesday, with only one hour of generation at 6:00 a.m.  Off Thursday morning until 5:00 a.m. and then on the rest of the day into today.  It is still on and the projection is for generation all day.  By noon, they show a low one generator for most of the balance of the day. 

As I said, catching continues to be great, but the generation schedule is a little limiting as far as places to wade fish.  Darrell took Clint and his son, Cole, from Kansas out for a half day Wednesday.  Cole got cold in a hurry and Mother came to the rescue.  Clint and Darrell continued the half day with an abundance of fish on a black midge, a brown midge and the holographic green cackleback.  This was the treat of the day…catching them on the crackleback. 

Yesterday, Gina and a friend, Valley, were on the river yesterday.  They just had to give me a call at the shop, where I was stuck all day! to let me know that they caught a whole bunch on the holographic green crackleback.

Well, they finally did it!  Turned the water off all day yesterday.  Projected that it would be off today after running two generators for an hour this morning but that did not happen.  So far they have run two generators all day with the levels going up to 705.8 and down to 703.9 as of 5:00 p.m. today.  Projection for tomorrow is the equivalent of one generator at 8:00 a.m. for one hour, then off the rest of the day.  Again…..we’ll see.  Hope so.  Weather should also be nice. 

Right now, fishing is absolutely great.  Darrell had Malcomb from the St. Louis area out for 1/2 a day on Saturday.  Two generators going Saturday until 4:00 p.m.  They caught a bunch of fish on the ruby midge, bug-eyed bugger and red midge. 

Sunday, we had two generators going all day and Stan had Jeff from Kansas out for 1/2 a day and wore him out catching fish on the high-water red midge, olive wooly bugger and, drifting out from the Lookout Island, the peach fur bug.  He also caught some on the holographic crackleback.  Really enjoyed stripping this and the wooly bugger.  Carolyn had Bill from Nebraska out most of the day for his second day of the two-day fly fishing school.  He was in overload from all the information on the first day of class, so the second day of fishing was a good way to clear his mind as he caught by hooking lots of fish on the ruby midge, and the olive filoplume on a sinking leader.  Good student and loves Hazelnut coffee!

Monday had no water flow.  I think the trout were even celebrating!  Carolyn spent 1/2 day on the river with Tim and his son, Austin from Harrisonville.  They are brand new fly fishers and were absolutely spoiled by the quality of the fishing on Monday!  They could not keep the fish off their size 18 rusty midge or the size 18 ruby midge.  We lost count of the number of doubles they had.   Must mentioned that as we were rowing by several people standing in the water fishing, almost every rod was bent.  It was just one of those days where everyone who could get a fly into the water was catching fish.  One of our customers called Tuesday afternoon and said he was wading a little ways above us at the Rockin Chair and he hooked a fish almost every cast on his olive wooly bugger.  Meanwhile, Stan had Alan and his son Robert, from Texas,  out for a full day float.  Alan and Robert took our two-day school in 2005.  Both have come a long way but still enjoy the great fishery we have here.  LOTS of fish on the size 18 burgundy , rusty and olive midges.  

Despite what the projection was for today….no generation most of the day….they ran two generators.  Jim was out with Kyle from Nebraska.  Kyle fishes a lot and throws a good line.  He spent the day with Jim and they had a wonderful day with the red midge and orange San Juan dropper, but most fun on the size 16 red ass soft hackle (what we believe to be an old White River classic pattern) in the seams where fish were coming up. 

Wish you were here! ! !

Just went out to the projection for today and it has changed from what they stated yesterday afternoon.  They now projected off water this morning until 7:00 a.m. when the equivalent of one generator will be on for two hours, the the equivalent of two generators for two hours and back to one for two more, then off.  Should be off the balance of the day.  Again,……..we’ll see.  They are still projection a low one with 25 mwh for all day tomorrow.  Monday, we will see three hours of generation from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.  Off until 7:00 p.m.  We can hope!

The weather held off Thursday.  We did not get the severe weather in Branson that they were forecasting, so not much rain.  Generators still going 24/7, but as I tell everyone, don’t just listen to how many generators are flowing, listen to the tailwater level.  Just like today, they are running two generators.  But, the tailwater level was as low as 703.8 feet.  You can fish this level very well both from the bank and wading in certain areas.  Projection is for 25 mwh all day and that is what they are projecting for both Saturday and Sunday.  Monday, they "say" it will be off from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m…..We’ll see!  Would be nice.  Weather looks like showers tomorrow and in the upper 40s.  Cloudy both Sunday and Monday with temperatures in the low to mid 50s. 

Jim on the water Thursday afternoon for a half day drift with Bill from Kansas.  Bill is pretty new to fly fishing and like most people when they get a nice fish on, they get a death grip on the line to keep it from getting away and guess what happens.  Other than the big ones that got away, he brought several to the boat on the red midge with a pink San Juan worm.  When they were not catching, they were working on casting, line work and, of course, hook sets!  Lots to learn and he had a good time and hopes to come back soon.

Yes, Table Rock Lake is below pool, 914.6 feet and Beaver is just a tad above pool at 1120.2.  Projection for Monday is 35 MWH, which should hold the Taneycomo tailwater in the 704 to 705 range again today.  This is pretty much where it stayed yesterday.  Saturday held in this range also except for late at night when they jumped it up to 706.8.  Weather has been absolutely wonderful!  A bit of a breeze, but with temperatures in the upper 60s and lots of sunshine, we can take the breeze!  Forecast is warm and sunny today.  We will start getting chances for showers this evening through Wednesday.  Let’s hope they are not significant.  It would be nice to keep Table Rock at power pool for a while so they can turn on the generators.

 Friday, the two guys from Michigan, John and Jim, finished up their stay with one more float with Jim.  They had a good day on the water.  Tthe red midge and pink San Juan dropper were working well.  They also caught lots of the fish on the olive Bug-Eyed bugger.  Jim from Michigan, had another streamer pattern that he pulled out of his box which did really well.  Our Jim has a couple samples and is tying up some to see if they are a consistent player in our water.  We will keep you posted.  Meanwhile, Stan was out with one of his regulars, Jim from the Kansas City area.  Unfortunately, Jim has been having some health problems and just did not feel like fishing for a while.  Glad to say, he is healthy again and had a wonderful 1/2 day throwing the size 18 ruby midge under the a larger ruby and catching lots of fish. 

Saturday, Jim had Jeff and Justin, from Oklahoma out for a 1/2 day float.  Good day for them.  They caught fish on the red midge with a pink San Juan worm dropper and gots lots of help with casting, line work, and variations of presentation for different fly types. 

Sunday Stan and Carolyn took the "Louisiana Connection" out for a long 1/2 day.  Of course, Dawn (aka "The Stripper") was in the boat with Carolyn and Stan had Albert and James Albert in his boat.  Great day on the water!  Lots of sunshine, lots of fish and lots of fun.  Best pattern was the size 18 ruby midge. Still catching some "dinks", but not like we were earlier.  Also, still catching lots of males in spawn.  We did try and did catch fish on the sinking leader with the filoplume, and caught fish; the olive wooly bugger, and caught fish; and the bug-eyed bugger, and caught fish.  But, nothing like the ruby!  This was her day. 

                                            Dawn – 3/7/10

Generation is continuing 24/7 with the tailwater level hovering around 707 feet.  Table Rock was as 915.1 feet this morning, only 1/10th of a foot over power pool.  Beaver is 2-3/10s over power pool and running off and on most every day.  On early in the day, then off for several hours, then back on.  Temperatures in the 40s the past two days, but they have been a bone-chilling 40s.  However, the forecast through the weekend looks great.  Sunshine and temperatures from the mid 40s up to the upper 50s or better.  Slight chance of rain Sunday night, then more change Monday and Tuesday but temperatures will remain seasonal.

Even the two guys from Michigan, John and Jim, that Jim had out Monday and Tuesday said yesterday was bone-chilling.  They thought they were back in Michigan.  Jim works in the store at Schmidt Outfitters in Wellston, Michigan, and John guides on the area rivers.  They have come to Taneycomo and fish with Jim this time of the year to get away from the cold weather and for a change in fishing scenery before their season opens up.  So far, they have had a couple good, cold, but good days on the water.  Yesterday, they had a great time working size 20 black midge emergers.  They don’t get a lot of this type action on their waters, so it was a fun change.  Today they are sightseeing and plan to be back on the water with Jim Thursday and Friday.

Stan was out for 1/2 day with Dennis from Kansas.  Dennis fishes Taneycomo several times a year and said he kept telling himself, "I need to try a guide trip some day".  Well, yesterday was the day and he is glad he did.  Said he learned a lot within the first few minutes he was on the water.  They had a great day stripping the sand colored size 12 filoplume under an intermediate sinking line on the Pointe Royale flats area.  Also caught several on the good old red midge.  Dennis is a good fisher and caster.  Never had fished from a drift boat and really loved it!

Table Rock continues to run non-stop 24/7.  Last time the generators were off was early in the morning last Wednesday.  Table Rock is sitting at 915.4, so we are slightly less than a 1/2 foot above power pool.  They have been pretty consistent with running four generators, but have varied the level from as high at 709.9 to as low as 705.9 feet.  Beaver is only 2/10ths above their power pool.  They are at 1120.2 as of 2:00 p.m. today. 

Weather forecast for the balance of the week looks very good.  We might even see the 60s by this weekend.  Their is a chance of some moisture over the weekend, but they said nothing to get too excited about yet.  Let’s hope it is a warm weekend with low or no flow!  I can dream can’t I !!

Despite the non-stop water generation, approximately 30 members of the Prairie Fly Fishers, 89ers Trout Unlimited, and Tulsa Trout Unlimited clubs converged on the Taneycomo area this past weekend.  Several started arriving Thursday afternoon and they continued arriving as late as early Saturday.  Needless to say, with the running water, some of them fished up around the Hatchery Area while others hit the area streams.  We suggested the various areas of Turkey Creek which runs through Hollister.  We used to fish there many years ago, and it can hold some nice fish.  Also suggested Roark Creek and Bull Creek.  Even sent some folks up to Crane Creek. 

Saturday, Jim and Carolyn had boats on the water with some guys from Oklahoma City.  Jim had Bob and Ken, while Carolyn drew Jeff and Main.  What a day!  Bob is brand new to fishing so Jim spent a lot of time working with him on casting, line work, hook setting and playing fish.  Meanwhile, Ken, who was in the front of the boat and a seasoned fly fisher, was catching fish on the red midge with a hot pink San Juan dropper.  Carolyn had a couple fly line flingers, Jeff and Main, in her boat.  After picking up several fish on the red holographic midge with a pink San Juan dropper while going through the slough that runs just down from the MDC boat ramp along the Point Royale area, they settled in on the lower flats with  sinking leaders and olive filoplumes and caught a lot more.  Stan had Mark and his brother Guy, from the St. Louis area in his boat for most of the day.  They had a great day and did best on the pink San Juan dropper, the pink lady egg pattern and the olive filoplume. 

Water has been running non-stop now since Wednesday morning at 5:00 when they turned it back on after having it off since 11:00 p.m. the day before.  Today they have been keeping it at 709 early this morning down to 706 this afternoon.  Although the mornings are pretty cool, teens to lower 20s, the afternoons are pretty nice.  Today is great!  Sunny, upper 40s with a little wind.  Think we might have pretty much the same weather tomorrow, just a little cooler, maybe in the mid 40s.

Jim started the nippy morning with Peter, from Kansas.  Peter said the 19 degrees here was definitely better than the 5 degrees he left up home.  Their full day boated quite a few fish on the red midge, and an orange or pink San Juan dropper.  Peter said it was a great day, he just wished he had landed more of ths hits he had had during the day.

As I mentioned in an earlier reort, we are starting to see a change in the generation pattern.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they dropped the generation back in the afternoon from about noon until 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. to the equvalent of one generator with a tailwater level in the 705 feet range.  Yesterday and the projection for today is the water will be off from around noon until 4:00 or 5:00 p.m.  They have aldo had it off in the morning from midnight until 6:00 a.m.  Now that the water is cooperating a little, the weather is turning off a bit colder, so this could have an impact on the generation pattern. 

While the water was off yesterday, Darrell had to check it out!  He reported back that the fish were midging like crazy.  He caught fish on the primrose & pearl, rusty midge and the copper dun.  He also caught a nice rainbow the day before with the water up on a size 16 ginger scud.